Picture special: Children inspired after Young Voices concert unites Yorkshire primary schools

Yorkshire schoolchildren were left feeling inspired after more than 5,000 sang together on the opening night of the Young Voices concerts at the Sheffield Arena. Children will be performing on evenings throughout the week at the Yorkshire venue, helping to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Young Voices, the largest children's choir in the world.
Young Voices performance at Sheffield Arena. (Picture: Andrew Roe)Young Voices performance at Sheffield Arena. (Picture: Andrew Roe)
Young Voices performance at Sheffield Arena. (Picture: Andrew Roe)

Lucy Hargreaves, one of the teachers who was involved in the opening night with her school Tockwith Church Of England Primary, said that the experience was “unbelievable”. She was delighted that so many schools came together and produced such a heart-warming spectacle. They had been practising, in individual schools, for months and last night performed as a collective.

“The children were learning songs in the hall of the school so to then take those into a massive arena was overwhelming,” she said. “It was absolutely fantastic, unbelievable. It was so busy and the children were buzzing with energy. It was lovely to meet other schools and mingle with them.

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“Afterwards, parents said that the concert was brilliant and they couldn’t get over the noise. They couldn’t believe just how good it was. They were opposite us. We had a banner so they could spot us. They said that we didn’t stop singing and dancing. We’re all very tired today. It was intense.”

Young Voices performance at Sheffield Arena. (Picture: Andrew Roe)Young Voices performance at Sheffield Arena. (Picture: Andrew Roe)
Young Voices performance at Sheffield Arena. (Picture: Andrew Roe)

The children from across the participating schools were all aged from six to 13. Ms Hargreaves had said before the event that many of her pupils were excited, because it was many children’s first visit to a concert or a large arena, and the night did not disappoint them.

“We walked in and the first thing that they heard was the bass of the music - and their reaction was ‘wow’,” she said. “They couldn’t get over how big it was. It took a while to take it all in. Once they had got used to the noise level though, they sang their hearts out.”

Ms Hargreaves said that “a lot of the kids want to go again next year” and that all their effort before the concert had paid off. “It was very worthwhile,” she said. “It just shows that the hard work you put in is worth it in the end.”